Rewilding

Gerlits, Lisa. Rewilding
August 5, 2025 by One Elm Books
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Joy Holderman and her brother Ian have had a hard time since their parents divorced. Their father isn't great about picking them up on time or following through with plans, and their mother is so depressed that she often doesn't make it out of bed in order to buy groceries or take care of the yard. The neighbors are starting to notice, and when Joy's best friend Char overhears Ian talking to the school counselor, Ms. Bertoli, Joy panicks about Children's Protective Services getting involved. When she is trying to do some lawn care  herself, she finds an injured bird and is afraid a neighbor's cat might kill it, so she brings it inside and tries to take care of it. When she panics that she has perhaps done the wrong thing, she consults a neighbor whose yard is rewilded, which many of the other neighbors do not like. Mrs. MacRury, or Ezzie, as she likes to be called, is not friendly at first, but does help with the bird. Joy and Ian spend time in her yard, and it is a welcome break from their troubles at home. Joy does laundry, cooks, and makes a list of groceries for her mother. She sees a "final notice" bill for the electricity, which is soon cut off, and the mother still isn't motivated to action. Joy texts her mother's friend, Simone, telling her that they are not okay, especially after she sees legal papers indicating that her father is seeking custody because of the "mental instability" of the mother. This is especially important, since long held secrets about the father's interaction with the children come to light. Will Joy and her family be able to find a way forward?

Strengths: Stories about parental abuse and neglect tend to circulate well in my library; my daughter was a big fan. She explained that the books made her feel better about her own life, and I see this played out frequently in my library, usually in the winter, when readers crave this kind of comfort. The Holderman situation isn't dire, but it's getting there. Joy is able to take care of Ian, and does not want anyone, even her friend Char, to know their business. There are supportive adults, like Ms. Bertoli and Ezzie, and that's always a good, hopeful inclusion in this type of book. The problematic behavior of the father is foreshadowed nicely, and the inclusion of gaslighting is something that doesn't show up a lot in middle grade novels. Ezzie is an interesting character, and I love that she is rewilding her yard. I've been working on my own property since I read Burns' The Hive Detectives, and thankfully my neighbors have all been supportive. It's an interesting and important thing for readers to learn about!. 
Weaknesses: The illustration style of the cover and interior pictures make this seem very young. It might be hard to get seventh and eighth grade readers to pick this up. 
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who are comforted by stories about children whose lives are worse than their own like Kalmar's Stealing Mt. Rushmore, LeZotte's Deer Run Home or Florence and Scrimger's The Other Side of Perfect.